Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court: Abdullah Alqaisi
A man who attempted to hit a cyclist and called him a “cyclist f----t” on a busy Brighton road has been hauled before court.
South East
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A Brighton man attempted to hit a cyclist with his car and shouted homophobic slurs has told a court his offending is “out of character”.
Abdullah Alqaisi, 36, pleaded guilty at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on October 13 after attempting to swerve and hit a cyclist in Brighton last year.
The court heard Alqaisi exited a driveway on Beach Rd in Brighton on October 3, almost colliding with the cycling victim.
When the victim yelled out to Alqaisi, he and an unknown passenger began yelling homophobic slurs out the car window, including calling him a “cyclist f----t”.
The court heard Alqaisi then swerved into the bike lane, with the cyclist falling from his bike and into bushes.
The court heard Alqaisi didn’t stop to check on the cyclist
A witness saw the incident and followed Alqaisi to get his licence plate before returning to check on the victim.
Alqaisi told the court the cyclist had attempted to knock off the side mirror of his car.
Magistrate David Starvaggi said he was lucky the victim had not sustained more serious injuries.
Alqaisi submitted three character references, all which stated he was a “mild mannered man,” and that “the offending was out of character for him.”
Mr Starvaggi took into account Alqaisi’s spotless driving history when sentencing him.
Alqaisi was fined $2500 without conviction and he retained his license.
